NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (alternately known as the North Atlantic Alliance and shortened to NATO or OTAN in French) is a multi-national BLUFOR faction that has made appearances in ArmA: Cold War Assault, ArmA 2, and in ArmA 3.

Contents

Background

First signed in 1949, NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance that was formed between several North American and European countries. It was founded on the principle of collective defence, and of guaranteeing the peace and security of its members through mutual political and military co-operation.

Throughout the series, NATO by itself has traditionally been more of a broad figure used to encompass all of the playable, Western-based factions such as those from the United States or the United Kingdom.

ArmA 2

TF Knight flag.

In ArmA 2: Operation Arrowhead, a multi-national task force, Task Force Knight, is formed after the Takistani government threatens to invade the nearby country of Karzeghistan.

The bulk of the NATO presence in Takistan at this time consisted of troops from the U.S. Army, along with allied forces from the United Kingdom (the British Army), the Czech Republic (ACR), and German special forces (the KSK).

ArmA 3

TF Aegis emblem.

In ArmA 3, the NATO presence on the island nation of the Republic of Altis and Stratis was initially limited to the joint British/American Task Force Aegis.

History

Events of Resistance (1982)

They provided shipments with the latest in Western-made firearms and equipment that would greatly assist the group in eventually driving off Colonel Aleksei Guba's forces.

When the guerillas were about to be overrun, a squadron of American attack helicopters were dispatched from Malden to assist the beleaguered rebels. Their air support was crucial in bringing an end to the occupation, with the Soviet forces destroyed and its remaining survivors being forced to surrender to the rebels.

Events of Cold War Crisis (1985)

On May 5th, 1985, "unknown forces" attack and destroy the NATO training camp based on Everon.

NATO forces on Malden prepare to ship out to Everon following the initial attack.

A response force is dispatched by the NATO commander on Malden, Colonel Caper Blake, to investigate the identity of the "unknown" attackers, but is eventually driven (literally) back into the sea when a massive wave of (apparently) Soviet troops overrun the Americans following a failed attack against the city of Montignac.

Two weeks pass without further incident while NATO and Western governments furiously scramble to obtain answers from the Soviet Union, which continued to stubbornly deny any involvement in the occupation. But to make matters worse, the "Soviet" troops suddenly launch a full-scale invasion of Malden itself. They quickly seize Malden's ports from the outnumbered NATO defenders, while Soviet forces thundered north towards the main airport.

Though NATO forces stationed on the island mostly consisted of rookie troops still in training, no men could be spared and everyone was mobilised to make a stand; at least until reinforcements could be brought in.

Outnumbered ten to one, they had to trade territory for time until Soviet forces finally reached the city of Houdan. NATO tanks and infantry fought their Soviet counterparts in a fierce battle that lasted for several hours. At the end of it, NATO forces achieved their first "victory" for the first time since the invasion.

Having regained some of their initiative, NATO forces slowly pushed back south. They held the city of Chapoi against another massive Soviet attack, broke through Soviet lines at the heavily fortified border-zone of Lolisse, and then finally retook La Riviere and Malden's ports, cutting off Soviet reinforcements.

To the relief of all sides involved, the commander of the unknown forces is revealed to be (now General) Aleksei Guba, the very same leader who conducted the occupation of Nogova three years earlier. Guba personally issues a threat to Blake to leave the region immediately. If they refused, his personal army would destroy the Americans to the last man without mercy.

Blake disregards the threat however, and continues to work on driving off the Soviets from Malden first. He secretly dispatched Maj. Gastovski and Lieutenant David Armstrong on a covert mission back to Everon to enlist the aid of the guerilla fighters based there.

NATO forces regrouped for one final attack against the remaining Soviet troops on Malden, but first they needed to ascertain the location of their camp, which was hidden somewhere north of the town of Goisse. NATO scouts are able to identify the camp's location after luring their forces out, and raze the camp to the ground after another massive battle.

Having destroyed their only remaining base on Malden, NATO forces (along with freshly arrived reinforcements) prepared to mount an invasion on Everon itself. With the help of the local guerillas, U.S. special forces infiltrated the island days before the main assault to sabotage Soviet defences.

On June 20th, NATO forces stepped foot onto Everon for the first time in more than a month since their defeat at Montignac. They first secured the main airport north of Everon to clear the way for their heavy armour to be brought in, while air support and special forces teams worked around the clock to ferry troops and cripple Soviet supply lines.

NATO forces continued to cut their way through Soviet lines, liberating the villages of Morton, Le Moule, and Regine, before finally retaking the city of Montignac itself. Their focus then shifted towards the central sector of the island where the Soviets had set up numerous bases near the village of Levie. NATO tanks rolled through and smashed the Soviet defences, while also driving off a counterattack aimed at dislodging the Americans.

The liberation of Everon finally culminated in a total victory for NATO forces when U.S. troops and armour supported by attack helicopters, struck the main Soviet headquarters at Saint Pierre. The loss of the HQ forced the remaining Soviet troops to flee back to Kolgujev, their base back in Soviet-controlled territory.

NATO widened its front against the rogue Soviets, hoping to destroy them completely to put a decisive end to their threat. Col. Blake launched multiple airstrikes on their bases and carried out an amphibious landing on the southern end of the island. But in an unprecedented act of defiance however, Guba threatens Blake once again with a televised message, warning that he had nuclear missiles primed and ready to launch if they continued to refuse his demands.

With time running short and the flashpoint on Everon now at a breaking point, NATO forces desperately scrambled to locate the missiles. U.S. special forces led by Maj. Gastovski manage to locate the missile site in central Kolgujev and destroys it moments before it could be launched.

Before they could proceed with the arrest of Guba himself, he inexplicably reveals that a second missile was still stashed away in the north of the island, and was planning to use it to destroy not just himself but all NATO forces as well, hoping to spark a global conflict between NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Fortunately, Gastovski's team are successful in destroying the second missile and take Guba into custody, putting an end to the crisis on Everon once and for all.

Post-Cold War Crisis

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In an official statement, the Secretary of Defense revealed that a US training camp on the island had been attacked by a small group of lightly-armed terrorists, led by a disgraced former General of the Russian army. US military sources stated that the assault was a poorly-planned, publicity-seeking maneuver by an extremist organisation, which was easily resisted by American troops. There were no significant casualties.

Post-flashpoint radio news report

»

Guba is apprehended by NATO troops, and possibly awaits trial to face charges over the numerous war crimes his forces committed against the people of Everon.

Meanwhile, both the United States and Soviet Union publicly denied all allegations of NATO and Soviet forces fighting against each other; bilaterally agreeing to cover up the incident and of Guba's involvement.

ArmA 2

Overview

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Some of the NATO armies supported the operations in Takistan by sending in their cream of the crop: usually the special forces or specialized detachments, e.g. Czech Rapid Reaction Brigade and Special Forces Group or German Kommando Spezialkräfte.

Official ArmA 2: Operation Arrowhead site description

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History

Events of Operation Arrowhead (2012)

With his power gradually slipping away, the dictator of Takistan, Colonel Muhammad R. Aziz, threatens the nearby country of Karzeghistan with an ultimatum; chemical missiles would be launched against the country should the oil-rich fields of the Sharig Plateau not be "immediately returned to the people of Takistan".

The main invasion of Takistan begins with U.S.-led NATO force striking the Loy Manara airfield

With unanimous approval from the Security Council, the United Nations directs that the Takistani government step down from its demands. Aziz refuses to do, and the Council authorises foreign intervention in the country to preempt Aziz's threat.

Operation Arrowhead immediately begins in full swing, with American forces from Task Force Knight leading the charge into the country. Prior to the operation's start, British special forces quietly inserted behind enemy lines and were successful in disabling many of the Takistani Army's SCUD ballistic missile launchers.

After days of heavy fighting, NATO forces continue to push northward and liberate several Army/Republican militia-held towns and villages, while only suffering minimal casualties. The advance does suffers a slight setback after a civilian transport carrying journalists and Non-Government Organisation workers is shot down by the Takistani Army.

The priority for NATO immediately switches from attacking to search-and-rescue, but they are unable to find any trace of the survivors.

NATO forces eventually move onto the provincial capital of Zargabad after U.S. intelligence sources successfully gain actionable intel on the location of both Aziz and the hostages. At the same time however, Aziz, in a moment of desperation, orders the last of his SCUD missiles to be armed in order to inflict serious damage on coalition forces, as well as on the neighbouring country of Karzeghistan.

The final Battle for Zargabad begins as U.S. troops race against time to stop the SCUD missiles from launching

Even with time running short, U.S.-led NATO forces successfully dismantle the last of the ballistic missile threat before their refuelling process can finish. On top of that, Aziz himself is fatally shot by U.S. Army troops after he's cornered at the presidential palace.

A press conference is later held at FOB Revolver with the U.S. Army's TF Knight commander, Colonel Kane, reporting on NATO's successes to the global media.

Post-Operation Arrowhead

With Aziz and his senior officers out of the way, NATO's priorities in the region immediately shifted from regime change to peacekeeping, counterinsurgency, and stabilisation operations instead.

Their main focus was hunting down remnants of the Takistani Army, along with training the local authorities and reformed New Takistani Army (NTA) in maintaining peace in the country.

Unfortunately, this victory also marked the beginning of the country's gradual slide into chaos once more. As the bulk of NATO forces; including those from the United States and the United Kingdom, began to withdraw from the country, only a few non-frontline and administrative personnel remained in static positions within the secure Green Zones of the country.

In-fighting between NTA government forces and the regional warlords (former rebel leaders) increased as they were no longer unconditionally pro-NATO, and began challenging the NTA's authority in order to seize control of the country.

ArmA 3

Overview

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Decades of economic and political turbulence across member states has left NATO weakened and facing a strategic paradigm shift.

With CSAT political and military influence dominating from the Pacific to the Mediterranean, NATO seeks to consolidate their diminished forces around traditional strongholds. As tensions continue to grow in the east, a US-led joint NATO-AAF peacekeeping force stationed on Stratis - Task Force Aegis - is in the middle of a staged drawdown.

The remaining units - a company of combat units, a helicopter squadron, and support staff under the command of Col. Andrew MacKinnon - are chiefly involved in dismantling military infrastructure and decommissioning vehicles in preparation of their final withdrawal, as the US shifts the focus of its conventional forces to the Pacific theatre.

Official ArmA 3 site description

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History

Top-left: Public opinion in the United States begins to shift away from supporting NATOTop-right: Declining American power sees a dramatic rise in China's hold over the Pacific region, intruding into areas traditionally dominated by American influenceBottom-left: The on-going economic depression sees constant riots take place in many Western European capitalsBottom-right: The peacekeeping mandate for the continued deployment of British forces on Altis is denied an extension by an overwhelming majority in the UK's parliament

AAN News Report: Meanwhile, civil disorder spilled over into a third week of violent riots and mass protest across European capitals. Again, the streets of Paris and Rome were ablaze last night as military-enforced curfews passed ignored, and the number of deaths rose into the hundreds.

Senator Raymond Givens (R-GA): 'CSAT wants to invest in Altis? Let them! The US can no longer be seen to prop up Europe's failed economic situation. This is their mess. We got our own problems - let's deal with those.'

Civil unrest and political deadlock throughout NATO sees its existence left hanging in the balance

»

Economic issues continue to plague many of the core NATO members, with the United States itself becoming increasingly isolationist in the face of its ongoing proxy wars against China in the Pacific, as well as dwindling Western European soft power.

Prior to the start of the events of The East Wind, the alliance has already been severely fragmented, with several Southern European nations facing total economic collapse, while Eastern European members have left the organisation on the promise of receiving Russian oil.

Events of the Prologue (2034)

Four years after the end of the civil war on Altis, NATO forces from the joint-U.S./British Task Force Aegis are in their fourth year of a five year-long deployment. Their primary mission is limited to peacekeeping; aimed at preventing any further major outbreak of hostilities between the AAF and the anti-government FIA insurgency.

NATO forces clash with the AAF on the latter's questionable ethics.

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Adams, alongside Sergeant Conway, is a part of a small detachment of the task force that has been assigned to train AAF recruits in military basics and counterinsurgency warfare.

Relations between the AAF and NATO forces gradually between to wear down however, as one incident after another begins to cause conflicts of interest between the two forces. The deterioration in relations hits a new low after the AAF and FIA agree to a sit-down at the old capital of the nation, Kavala, in order to arrange a ceasefire between the two sides.

In reality, both sides had hidden motives for agreeing to the meeting; the former sought to take out all of the FIA's leaders in one stroke, while the latter hoped to stir an uprising in the city to seize it from their control. The uprising predictably fails and is crushed by the AAF completely.

Following a small skirmish with the guerillas, NATO forces eventually return to the capital to the sight of a one-sided massacre. According to the AAF, the guerillas had "thrown themselves" against the military and were "forced" to retaliate against them.

NATO forces arrive in Kavala to find things having gone from bad to worse.

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Akhanteros: Is there a problem here, Sergeant?Conway: What's the problem? Your men are abusing these prisoners.Akhanteros: This is none of your business, American.Conway: The hell it is! Corporal, arrest them.Akhanteros: What my men do is my concern, and mine alone, Sergeant.

Sgt. Conway angrily protests against Akhanteros' treatment of the guerillas

»

Unable to overrule them due to CSAT influence, NATO forces are forced to simply stand aside and watch with disgust while the surviving FIA guerillas are rounded up and executed by the AAF.

Events of Remnants of War (2034)

SPOILER ALERT

NOTE: This section contains spoilers from ArmA 3's Laws of War DLC 'Remnants of War' campaign.

Almost a week after the failed uprising in Kavala, NATO forces are reassigned to other areas of the country, with the village of Oreokastro to the north-west of the country being one of the notable locations that they were present in where they worked alongside the local IDAP NGO group.

NATO ferries in supplies for the IDAP encampment in the centre of the village.

As ground transportation was simply too risky to attempt due to the prevalence of bandit raids on vehicle convoys, NATO forces on-site helped to direct in an airdrop of much-needed humanitarian supplies for the village.

Though they came under fire from bandits while retrieving the airdrop, they managed to recover all of the supplies and brought them back to the camp intact.

Events of The East Wind (2035)

Survive

As their mandate had already expired and there was absolutely no chance of it being extended, NATO forces from TF Aegis begin preparations to leave the island nation.

By the start of The East Wind, most of the NATO forces have already left the country, with only U.S. Army engineering and support personnel staying behind in order to oversee the decommissioning of the remaining NATO facilities on the island of Stratis.

Likewise, British forces had also already left the country many months prior due to their government's motion to extend their deployment being overruled in Parliament.

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Broadway to all NATO forces on Stratis: Code Foxtrot. Code Foxtrot. AAF forces have overwhelmed the airfield and Air Station Mike-26. We're pulling back.

Callsign Broadway, moments before being cut off

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Without notice, the AAF launch a supposedly unprovoked attack on NATO forces. Caught completely off-guard, both the Stratis airbase and several other outposts quickly overrun, with all remaining high-ranking officers eliminated and what's left of the survivors being forced to retreat into the woods.

NATO forces eventually regroup at Camp Maxwell, a former NATO encampment that had been decommissioned many months prior. Under the leadership of a British special forces Captain, Scott Miller, they wage a guerilla campaign against the AAF in order to take back the initiative and at the same time, attempt to call for reinforcements.

The last of the U.S. troops retake Agia Marina from the AAF

While successful to some extent, they suffer a major setback when the AAF finally locate Maxwell and raze it with an artillery strike. It is then revealed that during the chaos, Miller's team was able to raise communications with NATO MEDCOM, but they would first need to clear out the town of Agia Marina before the invasion force could arrive.

Combining the last of their fighting strength, the remaining NATO forces attack the town and in spite of the odds that were against them, manage to seize it from the AAF.

However, just as they had seemingly achieved victory, a CSAT force counterattacks and wipes out what's left of the NATO task force. A few survivors attempt to escape via boats, but are also sunk by the AAF.

Stepping Stone

NOTE:Stepping Stone takes place during the events of The East Wind's Adapt episode.

In response to the AAF's surprise attack against the peacekeepers of TF Aegis, a U.S.-led NATO task force sails eastward towards the Republic of Altis and Stratis. Before they can invade the island nation however, the skies over the Gibraltar Straits must first be secured to ensure that air superiority can be maintained over the region.

To that end, the U.S. Navy's 6th Fleet sails into position to strike Malden. Once a former NATO outpost during the Cold War, the island has fallen under CSAT influence in the past two decades and has become a strategic location for CSAT forces in the region.

A small Chinese fleet of fighters are based at the former U.S. airbase to the north of the island, and a North African garrison are based in the south of the island. While the Chinese remain neutral and even allow NATO forces to observe their activities, North African Scimitar Regiment forces refuse to back down and remain hostile to NATO forces.

NATO forces begin their final push towards Dourdan.

Invading through Le Port, U.S.-led NATO forces seize multiple key locations throughout the towns of Chapoi and Cancon, while also taking Scimitar Regiment's MSR at Hourdan. After inflicting severe damage against the North Africans, NATO forces roll northwards to deal a finishing blow against them by striking against the city of Dourdan and eventually, La Trinite itself.

Although NATO command remains concerned about the Chinese possibly intervening at the last second, their worries are immediately dashed after the Chinese government disavows any involvement in the fighting, which essentially gives a green light for the invasion force to continue advancing northward.

Without Chinese support, the North Africans are easily overwhelmed by NATO forces, and promptly choose to surrender their remaining troops to the invasion force.

Win

The 111th ID plan their next move on the mainland following the initial failed attack on the airport

Now with Malden secured and air superiority achieved, NATO forces begin the invasion of Altis with a multi-pronged attack against the island of Stratis first. They quickly take the island from the now-outgunned AAF, and make preparations to take Altis' main airport as well.

Leading the charge into the country, the U.S. Army's 111th Infantry Division (111th ID) work alongside the 21st Brigade Combat Team (21st BCT) in an attempt to simultaneously seize multiple strategic targets on the mainland.

NATO forces race to plug the gap in the defensive lines at Neochori after the CSAT counteroffensive

Though they manage to easily secure the entire western half of the island, the drive eastward is met with failure as they encounter heavier-than-expected resistance from the AAF/CSAT garrison at the Altis International Airport.

They are forced to retreat all the way back to Neochori and plan for another offensive. Soon afterwards however, a CSAT raid and armoured counteroffensive almost overruns the defensive lines at Neochori, but are beaten back at the last moment with the help of the local guerillas.

Against all odds, NATO forces manage to lay claim on Chalkeia in spite of their heavy losses

The invasion almost fails due to a unforeseen series of events that almost wipe out one half of the attacking force, but the initiative is reclaimed thanks to the resourcefulness of the surviving troops, who manage to regroup and deal a critical blow to the AAF garrison in Chalkeia.

At the same time, the bulk of the NATO invasion force manages to overrun the main airport, seizing it at last from the AAF and CSAT garrison. NATO forces continue to push southwards towards the capital Pyrgos and finally seize the city after heavy fighting.

NATO forces move north-east to deal the finishing blow against the AAF

The combined elements of the 21st and the 111th then prepare to strike north-east, aiming to take the towns of Kalochori and Sofia. A separate force of ground units are dispatched to advance south towards Selakano instead, where they run into the remainder of the AAF's heavy armour assets.

They continue to remain wary of the CSAT garrison who are suspiciously attempting to avoid all direct combat with the U.S.-led NATO forces, leaving the majority of the fighting to the AAF.

After almost every town is seized by NATO forces, they eventually reach the north-eastern corner of the island. Surrounded completely on all sides; not to mention that more than a third of his troops were confirmed to be either dead or mortally wounded, the AAF's commander, Colonel Akhanteros, unconditionally surrenders to NATO forces.

Post-The East Wind

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NATO's invasion - albeit swift and, ultimately, successful - has stirred a new round of debates over the funding of military forces in this region. The conclusion was clear: there is no way NATO can maintain their position here while tensions in the pacific region rise. The decommissioning will continue and NATO will abandon this region.

The aftermath of the Altis Incident

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Six weeks pass following the AAF's capitulation. Under the leadership of its new president, Nikos Panagopoulos, the FIA guerillas have transitioned from a military opposition into a political body and work hard restore their homeland. NATO forces continue to maintain a heavy presence in order to ensure the stability of the country, and can also be seen overseeing the conference being held at Kavala as the new Altian government, NATO, CSAT, and Akhanteros agree to a shared peacekeeping deal.

While successful, the invasion had nonetheless been a costly expedition for NATO, as more than a hundred NATO soldiers had been killed before and after the invasion, and several other key SIGINT facilities (such as Mike-26) had been completely destroyed in the fighting.

The last of the U.S. Army troops on the island eventually leave the country for good after the remaining NATO facilities are decommissioned.

Events of Apex Protocol (2035)

U.S. Army troops form the bulk of the Pacific NATO forces operating in Tanoa, one of the central landmasses amongst the Horizon Islands group of nations. Working alongside the local authorities as part of the "Safe Horizon" exercises, their primary mission was to assist them in rooting out a growing insurgency threat that called itself the Syndikat.

In reality however, the exercises were being used as a cover for NATO's CTRG black ops unit, who had a completely different set of priorities and reasons for operating in the country.

Their initial involvement is mostly limited to providing just logistical support. They otherwise do not directly take part in any of the covert operations being conducted by CTRG.

Post-Apex Protocol

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NATO sources have moved quickly to condemn the, quote, 'illegal, immoral, and indefensible act of war'. With a UN Security Council Resolution set to mandate peacekeeping operations in the South China Sea, NATO forces remain on a heightened state of alert.

News reports detailing the aftermath of the revelations

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Upon revelation of the "Apex Protocol Papers", NATO leaders were quick to voice their disapproval of CSAT's activities, in spite of the latter's continued denials in the face of the overwhelming evidence covertly provided by CTRG.

While the "Apex Protocol" itself was revealed to the public, the existence of CSAT's Eastwind device is never shown, and its fate is left unclear even in light of the revelations.

Equipment

ArmA: Cold War Assault

The bulk of NATO forces on Everon and Malden consisted of U.S. Army troops, who mainly utilised the ALICE load bearing system and wore Battle Dress Uniforms (BDU) which were concealed in the ERDL woodland camouflage pattern.

On the other hand, the PASGT helmet served as the basic combat helmet worn by NATO forces, which was also camouflaged in ERDL.

Equipment used by each nation's military (American, British, Czech, German) drastically varied on a country-by-country basis. All Western forces were always equipped with the latest in electronic devices and weapons, which always made the average BLUFOR soldier superior in capability to their OPFOR counterparts.

Likewise, camouflage utilised by each nation varied depending on the area of operations and their preferred pattern; U.S. troops for example, were always seen using Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP)-camouflaged gear.

British Army troopers on the other hand, wore gear that utilised a mixture of the older DPM and DDPM patterns, along with the newer Multi-Terrain Pattern camouflage patterns while operating in Takistan.

German and Czech special forces deployed to Takistan used their own arid camouflage patterns, while conventional Czech forces utilised a woodland-based pattern for use in Bukovina and Bystrica.

Soldiers deployed to the Mediterranean theatre wear MTP camouflaged (not to be confused with the British Army's Multi-Terrain Pattern camouflage) uniforms with ranger green-coloured vests and a variety of spraypainted helmets. Soldiers operating in the Pacific theatre on the other hand, are issued Tropic-camouflaged uniforms, vests, and headgear.